Multiplane journal box



July 8, 1930. c g s Er AL 1,770,174

MULT I PLANE JOURNAL BOX Filed June 24, 1925 2 Sheets-Shest l J mum Mons July 8, 1930; T GEI' AL r 1,770,174:

MULTIPLANE JOURNAL BOX Filed June 24, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 A III, q.. k

Patented July 8, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERICK H. mon'rmmnno AND RICHARD W. PEARSON, or MILWAUKEE, w'rsoonsm, ASSIGNORS 'ro xonnamq COMPANY, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A oonrona'rron MULTIPLANE' J'QURNAI: BOX

Application filed June, 24, 1925. Serial No. 89,281.

\ The present invention relates to cei t'ain new and useful improvements in journal boxes of that character which are selfaligning, being mounted in such a manner that they can automatically adjust themselves to the line of the shaft or axle.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a journal box of this character which embodies novel features of construction whereby the journal box can be, shiftedwithin the housing to bring. di fi'erent bearing sur-' faces into operative position, thereby greatly prolonging the life of the journal box by enabing a fresh bearing surface to be brought into operative position when one bearing surface has become worn.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a journal box of this character which is' comparatively simple and inexpensive in its character, which will withstand heavy strains and can be used with heavy'loads, and which admits of the journal box beingquickly removed from the journal housing or placed in position therein.

While one particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and'described for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that many modifications and changes can be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fragmentary portion of a. multiplane or track laying tractor showing one of the bearing wheels thereof as provided with a journal box mounting constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 2 -2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view of the journal box with portions broken away and shown in section.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line H of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a similar view on the line 55 of Figure 2.

" Figure 6 is a plan view of one of the thrust washers. v

Figure 7 isan edge view thereof with the lower half broken away and shown in section. Figure 8 is a plan view, of the other thrust washer. c

Figure 9 is an edge view of the thrust washer shown by Figure 8.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated on all of the views of the drawings by like reference characters.

\Vhile the invention is shown for illustrative purposes as applied to. one of the bearing wheels of a multiplane or track laying tractor it will be understood that the journal box can be used wherever a device of that kind is desired. On Figure 1 of the drawings the reference character A designates a port1on of the mainframe of the tractor-and B a portion of the lower reach of the endlessbelt of the tractor. A series of bearing'wheels are ordinarily arranged over the lower reach of the tractor belt to hold it in proper contact with the ground and one of these bearing wheels is indicated by the reference character 0. These bearing Wheels are arranged in transverse pairs and each pair of the wheels is rigidly secured to an axle 1. Thevends of the axle are received within journal boxes 2 which are mounted within the housings 3 so that they can adjust themselves to the line of the axle and are what may be termed selfaligning journal boxes.

The housing 3 has a forked or bifurcated formation and is providedat' the top thereof with a bracket l by means of which it may be rigidly secured to the frame A of the tractor in some suitable manner, as by means of the rivets 5. The fork portion of the housing opens downwardly and the arms thereof have fiat and vertically disposed parallel faces. The top the space between the arms of the housin vis formed/with a spherically curved bearin g surface7. The journal box 2 has flat sides 8 which are adapted to engage the fiat inner faces of the arms of the forked housing.

At the top and bottom of the journal box 2 are spherically curved enlargements form- 100 ing bearing members 9, either one of-which .is adapted to fit within and engage the con cave bearing surface 7 of the housing. Each of the bearing members 9 is provided with a transversely extending groove or depression 10, and when the journal box is inv position within the housing the-upper bearing member 9 thereof engages the bearing surface 7 of the housing, while the groove 10 of the lower bearing member 9 of the journal box is engaged by a retaining bolt 11 which connects the two arms of the forked housing at the lower ends thereof. J

The journal box isheld in position-within the housing by the single retaining bolt 11, although it is free to have a limited rocking or tilting movement in order that it may auto matically adjust itself to the line of the shaft and thereby avoid any heavy or excessive strain on the bearlng during the movements of the tractor. All of the pressure is carried by the upper bearing member 9 of the-journ al box and in course of time this bearing member may become so worn as to prevent proper functioning of the journal box. It is than merely necessary to remove the retaining bolt 11, takeout the journal box and replace it in a reverse position, bringing the other bearing member 9 of the journal box into operative engagement with the bearing surface 7 of the housing. This avoids the necessity of providing a new our-nal box and practically doubles the life of the journal box.

The journal box 2 has an open inner end and a closed outer end, the outer end being tapped and provided with a suitable fitting 12 for engagement with a conventional grease gun. The grease which is supplied to the journal box through this fitting must eventuall work its way throughthe journal box and be discharged at the open end thereof, and this movement of the grease through the journal box tends to clean the journal of dirt and foreign matter, at the same time supplying grease or lubricant to the manganese thrust washers 13 and 14. The inner walls .of the journal box are shown as provided upon opposite sides thereof with pockets 1 5 which are adapted to receive and hold a supply of grease which is fed to the revolving axle 1 to keep the same properly lubricated.

These pockets and also the recesses 10 serve to catch and retain any comminuted mate- When traction .machines of this member parallel lugs 12 are provided at each side thereof.

The thrust Washer 13 is arranged at the inner end of the journal box and has an inwardly projecting flange 16 which is loosely received by the rabbeted end 17 of the journal box. This thrust washer 13 engages a second thrust Washer 14 which is carried by the wheel C, being provided with rearwardly extending lugs 18 which are received within corresponding openings formed in the face of the wheel. The thrust washer 14 thus revolves with the wheel 0 while the washer 13 is held against rotation by the downwardly extending wings20 which engage the side walls of the bifurcated housing as clearly shown by Figure 5.

The inner periphery of the washer 13 is provided with grease ducts 19 which are adapted to receive portions'o'f the grease discharged from the inner-end of) the journal box and convey the same to the space between the thrust washers, thereby providing for proper lubrication of these parts.

Having thus described our invention what We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

, 1. In a device of the character described, the combination, of a forked journal housing having a depressed bearing surface-at the closed end thereof, a journal box providing an axle bushing and fitted reversibly withinthe forked housing and provided upon opposite sides thereof with interchangeable bearing portions which can be brought selectively into engagement with the bearing surface of the housing, and holding means detachably connected with the housing and disposed adjacent a central point of one of the bearing portions,.said box being shiftable relative to said holding means for self-alignment.

2. In a device of the character described,- the combination, of a forked journal housing connecting the arms of the forked housing for holding the journal box in position, said box being shiftable relative to said fastening member for self-alignment.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination, with a forked journal housmg having a depressed bearing surface at the closed end thereof, a journal box fitted reversibly within the forked housing, said journal box having flat sides engaging the arms of the forked housing and also having interchangeable spherical bearing elements at the top and bottom thereof to selectively engage the bearing surface of the housing, and a retaining member connecting the arms of the forked housing andone of said elements for holding the ournal box in position, said retaining mem er extending transversely of said box, said box being shiftable relative to said retaining member.-

4. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a forked journal housing having a depressed spherical bearing surface I at the closed end thereof, a journal box fitted reversibly within the forked housing, said journal box having flat sides which engage the arms of the forked housing and being provided at the top and bottom thereof with enlarged bearing elements to engage interchangeably with the spherical bearing surface of the housing, said bearing elements being transversely grooved, and a retaining bolt connecting the arms of the forked housmg and engaging the groove of one of the hearing members to retain the journal box in position.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a journal box having a central opening, means for admitting lubricant thereto, and a thrust washer having an annular flange which overlaps the end of the journal box, said thrust washer being provided with radially disposedducts extending from the central opening and communicating with theend of the journal box.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a journal box, means for admitting lubricant thereto, a shaft l naled within the journal box, a thrust washer applied to the end of the journal box and held against relative movement, and a second thrust washer rotating with the shaft and engaging the first mentioned thrust Washer, the said first mentioned thrust washer having lubricant ducts therein leading from the end of the journal box to the contacting face of the second mentioned thrust washer.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

ERICH H. LICHTENBERG. RICHARD W. PEARSON.

Patent No. 1, 770,174.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION, I

Granted July :8, 1.930; to Emcmi. LICHTENBERG' ET AL. I

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as'follows: Page" 3, line 36, claim 6, for the word "relative" read rotativie; and that the" said Letters Patent shoul d ay'confonn to the record'of the case in the Patent Office. .7 y

be. readwith this correetion'therein that. the same 111 Signed and sealed this 9th 11110 September; A. D. 1930.-

M. J. Moore;

1 (Sal) e V .Agting commissioner of Patents. 

